Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Pocket (2000), Edition: First Thus, Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages
Description
After an early morning machinegun attack by a madman called the Digger leaves dozens dead in the Washington, D.C., subway, the mayor's office receives a message demanding twenty million dollars by midnight or more innocents will die. It is New Year's Eve, and with the ransom note as the only evidence, Special Agent Margaret Lukas calls upon retired FBI agent and the nation's premier document examiner Parker Kincaid to join the manhunt for the Digger--or for hundreds, the first moments of the new year will be their last on earth.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
The first 2/3rds of this book were good. I thought it would be an interesting thing to see how they would solve this and catch the Digger with the accomplice dead. Then, when the real mind behind it all was revealed, things started to fall apart. Things just seemed to come together a bit too
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magically for Parker and the rest of the FBI. Like the Cage guy getting the news anchor to instantly shut up about Parker’s involvement right in the middle of the news broadcast. Just seconds before he was going to reveal Parker’s involvement. That just seemed a little too, you know? It wasn’t the first impossible situation the guy had fixed either and without explanation as to how, it didn’t seem even remotely possible. It was like magic. If I wanted magic I would have read Harry Potter. Show Less
LibraryThing member EssFair
Deaver creates a fast moving mystery with an extra twist at the end in this mystery featuring Parker Kincaid, a documents expert recently retired from the FBI. Parker is asked to help find an extortionist/killer who is gunning down Washington DC residents every 4 hours. The only clue the FBI has is
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the extortion note. Parker is asked to analyze the scrape of writing. He is reluctant to get involved because his ex-wife has initiated a child custody suit and he is afraid of losing his kids if he gets involved in something tht could endanger them. Lots of bodies pile up while Parker and the FBI work out the clues. Deaver adds depth to the story by incorporating two motifs—one about children and a second about puzzles and puzzle solving. The story is marred by a weak ending which includes the use of a deus ex machina to insure that Parker lives to solve another case. The multilayered puzzles and the fast pace—Parker has less than 12 hours to solve his puzzle—make this book fast read. Show Less
LibraryThing member wispywillow
Jeffery Deaver does it again!
As usual for this wonderful novelist, his characters come to life, each with his or her own personality and quirks, etc.
The plot was intricate and deep, with enough turns to keep the reader guessing but not so many that it seems cheesy.
Oh, and I squealed like a
As usual for this wonderful novelist, his characters come to life, each with his or her own personality and quirks, etc.
The plot was intricate and deep, with enough turns to keep the reader guessing but not so many that it seems cheesy.
Oh, and I squealed like a
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"fangurl" when Lincoln Rhymes made a cameo appearance. ;D Show Less
LibraryThing member mazda502001
A really good thriller and one I thoroughly enjoyed as I do all of Deaver's books.
Back Cover Blurb:
It's Washington, DC; it's the last night of the year, and people are dying....
At 9am on New Year's Eve, 1999, a man gets onto the packed escalator of a metro station and fires a silenced machine gun
One hour later, a note is delivered to the mayor: 20 million dollars, or the writer will instruct the killer to strike again; at 4pm, at 8pm, at midnight....hundreds more will die. There can be no defence against this plan, not on that day, not in that city. The money has to be found, the ransom will be paid. But then a hit and run victim is identified as the mastermind behind the operation, and suddenly there's no way of stopping the psychotic gunman from killing again, and again, and again....
The only clue the FBI has to go on is the note....and the only man in the country who might be able to decipher its secrets is Parker Kincaid, forensic document expert, who, along with agent in charge Margaret Lukas, races against the clock to stop the killer before each deadline.
Back Cover Blurb:
It's Washington, DC; it's the last night of the year, and people are dying....
At 9am on New Year's Eve, 1999, a man gets onto the packed escalator of a metro station and fires a silenced machine gun
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into the crowd. He escapes without being spotted in the confusion caused by the horror of this vicious attack, which leaves dozens of killed and injured people.One hour later, a note is delivered to the mayor: 20 million dollars, or the writer will instruct the killer to strike again; at 4pm, at 8pm, at midnight....hundreds more will die. There can be no defence against this plan, not on that day, not in that city. The money has to be found, the ransom will be paid. But then a hit and run victim is identified as the mastermind behind the operation, and suddenly there's no way of stopping the psychotic gunman from killing again, and again, and again....
The only clue the FBI has to go on is the note....and the only man in the country who might be able to decipher its secrets is Parker Kincaid, forensic document expert, who, along with agent in charge Margaret Lukas, races against the clock to stop the killer before each deadline.
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LibraryThing member bobp0303
Just reread it 8/3/2011 -- got a copy from Jim & couldn't remember it except for the hawk puzzle -- good fast read
LibraryThing member tabitha6
I like Deaver's, Lincoln series and I enjoyed Lincoln showing an appearance in this novel. It was a terrific mystery and lead me off track a few times.
LibraryThing member bohemiangirl35
An "invisible" man fires a machine gun in a crowd killing dozens of people and leaving no evidence. The police receive a handwritten note asking for $20 million by midnight or more people will die.
Parker Kincaid, a retired FBI document examiner, is asked to consult on the case. He hesitates because
This was not one of Jeffrey Deaver's best, but it was still pretty good. There were a few twists that I didn't guess. Lincoln Rhyme makes a guest appearance.
Parker Kincaid, a retired FBI document examiner, is asked to consult on the case. He hesitates because
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his ex-wife has returned to request joint custody of their two children. Parker received full custody of the boy and girl when they divorced due to his ex-wife's horrible lack of parenting skills on the condition that he did not put the kids in danger with his job. So he retired and became a full time dad with a home business. Parker joins the case only if the FBI can guarantee his anonymity.This was not one of Jeffrey Deaver's best, but it was still pretty good. There were a few twists that I didn't guess. Lincoln Rhyme makes a guest appearance.
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LibraryThing member devenish
A stand-alone novel with a short and welcome appearance of Lincoln Rhyme. The two main characters here are Special Agent Margaret Lukas,in charge of her first big case and Parker Kincaid,who is an expert forensic document examiner. They are pitted against a killer known as the 'Digger' who is
The two criminals are well invented and the idea behind the crime is a good one. The Kincaid character however comes over as rather a dull dog and somewhat of a wet.
The final verdict is that although this is not one of Deaver's best efforts,it has quite a lot going for it and is definitely worth reading if only to re-meet,albeit briefly,Lincoln Rhyme.
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literally controlled by a criminal mastermind. The killings take place on New Year's Eve 1999 and increase in intensity as time progresses.The two criminals are well invented and the idea behind the crime is a good one. The Kincaid character however comes over as rather a dull dog and somewhat of a wet.
The final verdict is that although this is not one of Deaver's best efforts,it has quite a lot going for it and is definitely worth reading if only to re-meet,albeit briefly,Lincoln Rhyme.
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LibraryThing member ScribbleKey
I absolutely *love* the story idea behind this book, but I just couldn't get through it. Why?
The writing style. He used short phrases. Bits and pieces. Not whole sentences. Added suspense? No. Not at all. It was annoying.
Imagine that for hundreds of pages. No thanks! If you can get past that (or
The writing style. He used short phrases. Bits and pieces. Not whole sentences. Added suspense? No. Not at all. It was annoying.
Imagine that for hundreds of pages. No thanks! If you can get past that (or
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maybe listen to the audiobook), I think it could make for a really interesting book. It's just not my thing, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member craigschonborn
Interesting but not a great payoff. I like the forensics side, but certain things were too obvious.
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
“The Digger looks like you, the Digger looks like me.” “ - ..., a functioning human being who does nothing but kill.”
And the Digger is being chased down by Parker Kincaid, a handwriting and document analyzer par none! And the title of the book comes from his work - it is “an unusual mark
I really enjoyed this book, and it read quickly with good action and pacing! The Digger is a great 'bad guy' and the plot twists were unexpected, and enjoyed, by me! The ending totally worked for me too! For me, throw out the love story and the subplot with the witness protection guy, and this edges up to 5 stars!
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And the Digger is being chased down by Parker Kincaid, a handwriting and document analyzer par none! And the title of the book comes from his work - it is “an unusual mark
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above the lowercase ‘i’s’ - the tail of the dot went straight upward, so that it resembled a falling drop of water.” Nice huh? An expert, much like Lincoln Rhyme, who has a cameo appearance starting on page 122!I really enjoyed this book, and it read quickly with good action and pacing! The Digger is a great 'bad guy' and the plot twists were unexpected, and enjoyed, by me! The ending totally worked for me too! For me, throw out the love story and the subplot with the witness protection guy, and this edges up to 5 stars!
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
480 p.; 6.94 inches
ISBN
0671038443 / 9780671038441